'File 73/7 III (D 24) Status of Kuwait & Anglo-Turkish negotiations' [‎105v] (223/709)

IL As regards Koweit and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. produced a
connterdraft to onrs, which, though it contained objectionable features, we
accepted as a basis for discussion.
Article 1.—Turkish and British views were irreconcilable on the question
of " suzerainty " and " sovereignty," but as the important thing is the rights
actually secured for Koweit and renounced by Turkey iu the rest of the
convention, and as " suzerainty " is itself not a wholly unambiguous term, we
agreed, in return for satisfactory definitions in the subsequent mtides, to
omit either term, and to say that Koweit " est un Caza autonome de l Empire
Ottoman."
In Article 2 Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. laid stress on the Ottoman flag, and we accepted
it, subject to the Sheikh s right to mark it with a spoc lal (lo\ice. 1 Ins lias
been wanted locally for many years past, but the Sheikh uas <ili<iul of
Turkish displeasure.
The formula " Le Gouvernement Ottoman s'abstiendra de toute immixtion
dans les affaires de Koweit, y compris la question de la succession" was the result
of much discussion. Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. desired to say " les affaires interieurcs," to
which we insisted on adding "et exterieures," without which neither the omission
of reference to suzerainty or sovereignty nor the right to locate a Turkish
agent at Koweit would be safe. Rather than accept this, Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. would
omit " interieures et exterieures " altogether, and we agreed to this subject to
the signature of a separate secret note defining " affaires " as " interieures et
exterieures." To this note Hakki desired to add that the Sheikh had not the
right to conclude treaties {traife). In his counterdraft he had had a clause
to the effect that the Sheikh could not in future conclude political agreements
with foreign powers, and that economic agreements would require the sanction
of the Turkish Government; but we had struck this out. We agreed to the
addition to the note, with the insertion of the words " contraire a la present,e
convention." It is improbable that we shall ever again want to make a
political treaty with Koweit which would conflict with the convention so long
as the Turks observe it. The word "traite " would not, presumably, cover a
lease of land ; but even that we are unlikely to want. Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. further
claimed to regulate the succession in the Sheikh's family. This we objected
to, partly because it admitted Turkish interference, partly because it is
contrary to British policy to recognise any but the de facto inlei. Ihe
formula which Hakki was induced to accept—that the Turks will name the
successor a kaimmakam—is innocuous.
In respect of Avticle 3 we were in some doubt as to whether the Biitish
right of pre-emption over certain lands (including W arba Island), given by the
lease -agreement of 1907, should be specifically mentioned in the Convention.
We were both agreed that it w^ould be very impolitic to introduce it at the
eleventh hour unless it was absolutely necessary. It seemed to be unnecessary
for three reasons, (a) It was carefully considered last summer what should
be communicated to the Turks, and neither Sir P. Cox nor the Government
of India, nor the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , nor the Foreign Office, then suggested men
tioning the right of pre-emption. (6) The wording of the Convention is
very vague; "la validite des concessions de terrains." If the area of the
ground leased had been defined, the Turks might have accused us of bad
faith if it were afterwards to appear that we had rights over other ground ;
as it is, we might have leased the whole of Koweit. (c) Now that Warba